Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Downey leads 13 of 22 categories
Downey
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
Oakland
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
76% less violent crime than Oakland
Homes cost $205k less ($679,000 vs $883,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Cons
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Oakland by $10,153/yr
Oakland, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,153 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 81°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (7230.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Downey
Violent Crime
76% lower
460.5 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Downey
Median Home Value
$205k less
$679,000 vs $883,800
Downey
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 81.4°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$10,153
$94,389 vs $84,236/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 22.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Downey is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Downey leads 13 of 22 categories. Downey wins 13 and Oakland wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Downey to Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $883,800 median home), income ($84,236 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Oakland, CA are about 350 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.